Lawmakers to meet Palace execs on priority legislation soon

House of Representatives. INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said Congress is preparing to meet with Malacañang on the priority pieces of legislation.

In a briefing on Tuesday, Belmonte said the House of Representatives is gearing up for the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC).

Belmonte did not give a date for LEDAC, but said they are expected to talk about the priority measures after Congress takes its break on June 13.

“I’m sure it will be scheduled after the break,” Belmonte said, noting that Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa had said the Palace already has a list or priority legislation.

According to Belmonte, among the Palace’s priority bills are: Bangsamoro Basic law, Freedom of Information bill, Philippine Fair Competition Act, Rationalization of Fiscal Incentives, Electricity Power Industry Reform Act, Cabotage Law, and an act liberalizing scope and entry of foreign banks.

Consumer protection measure against lemon products; Philippine Maritime Zones Act or the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act; amendments to the Human Security Act; Civil Service Commission reform act; amendments to Sandigabayan Law; the Land Administration Reform Bill and amended Magna Carta for the Poor.

“We are happy to note that a lot of them (priority bills) have already been tackled by the House and some of them or most of them have been tackled by the Senate,” Belmonte said.

The Ledac, or a meeting between Congress and the executive branch, is chaired by the President.

Meanwhile, among the priority pieces of legislation as agreed by both chambers of Congress are:

Extending the corporate life of the Philippine National Railways

Mandating Telecommunications Service Providers to send free mobile alerts in the event of natural and man-made disasters and calamities

Amendments to the Sandiganbayan Law

Sangguniang Kabataan Reform

Ladderized Education Program (post-secondary)

Providing for an Open High School System for out of school youth

Open Learning through Distance Education in Post-Secondary and Tertiary Levels Act

National Student Loan Program (UNIFAST) Act

Special Education Center

Iskolar ng Bayan Act

Providing for mandatory PhilHealth coverage for all senior citizens

Picture-based Health Warning Law

Strengthening the Anti-Illegal Drugs Law (HB 2285)

Fisheries Code amendment

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